‘Heartbreaking’: 11-year-old Queensland girl dies after contracting Influenza B

"Influenza B is causing severe illness in otherwise healthy Queenslanders, young people in particular," shares Queensland’s chief health officer, John Gerrard.

Tributes are flowing for Emma Schwab, who died from Influenza B earlier this month. 

The 11-year-old contracted the flu and became so sick she was taken to Noosa Hospital.

On July 5th, she was sent home from the hospital, but her condition continued deteriorating. 

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An 11-year-old has died after contracting the flu. Source: GoFundMe

11yo rushed to hospital after contracting the flu

The next day, her family called an ambulance, and several crews arrived, including critical care paramedics, The Courier Mail reported. 

She was rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital but sadly died shortly after arriving. 

“Their experience is heartbreaking,” said a spokesperson for Sunshine Coast University Hospital. “Our clinicians are providing support to the family.” 

No other details regarding her death were provided. 

A spokesperson for Noosa Hospital at Ramsay HealthCare shared their condolences with the grieving family. 

“We express our deepest condolences to the patient’s family and loved ones; we have been in contact with the family to offer our support during this extremely difficult time,” they said in a statement. 

A GoFundMe has been set up to support her parents, who are “torn apart” with grief. 

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Her family are "torn apart" with grief. Source: Facebook

Rates of the flu on the rise across Australia

There has been a spike in flu cases across Queensland, with 722 cases per 100,000 people in the state, the highest rate in the country. 

“There have been three times more hospital admissions for influenza B than influenza A in children aged less than five years,” shared John Gerrard, Queensland’s chief health officer.

He is “very concerned” about the increase in influenza B cases and the “high rate of unvaccinated patients”, a concern that is heightened as school resumes this week. 

“Influenza B is causing severe illness in otherwise healthy Queenslanders, young people in particular,” he added. 

“Influenza B is known to be associated with more severe disease in children, many of whom would never have been exposed to influenza because of Covid-19 restrictions over the past three years.” 

He urged parents to vaccinate their children against the flu to help prevent further infections.

“We don’t want any more Queenslanders to suffer the anguish of being hospitalised or the grief of losing a loved one,” he said. 

Originally published as ‘Heartbreaking’: 11-year-old Queensland girl dies after contracting Influenza B